Over the years, I've learned that having too much time to work on any creative project can be a bad thing, but that having too little time can actually be helpful in some ways... So naturally, when it came time to edit my latest feature film (White Crow) I decided to give myself only 3 weeks to edit down a 23+ hour mountain of footage into a 90 minute assembly. While it may seem counter-intuitive to work this quickly, in my case it was actually a huge asset to the process.

In this episode, I outline exactly how I used aggressive deadlines and other self-imposed time constraints to tap into my gut instincts, and turn around a great first cut in record time. I also touch on applying these principles to our work consciously, to reach an ideal state of creative flow every time we sit down to work.

In today’s episode, I interview Gabe Reiter - an incredibly accomplished commercial producer who has now entered the world of independent content creation with his new series “Bunkheads”. The series (which is now available on Amazon Prime) is a hilarious sitcom set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, following four survivors as they not only attempt to survive the zombies outside, but also eachother.

Coming from a background in high end commercial production, Gabe has produced million dollar + spots for brands like UPS, Levi’s, Tide, Hallmark, Nationwide, and countless others. Over the course of this interview, Gabe shares his philosophy on production, how he was able to utilize his expertise in the commercial realm to produce a DIY project with a tremendous amount of production value, and much more.

Succeeding in film takes far more than a basic understanding of the craft. While technical skills are undeniably important for any filmmaker to master, they alone will not equate to any type of artistic or commercial success. The degree to which any filmmaker succeeds has far more to do with their psychology and tenacity than it does their skill...

For instance - Many of us understand the importance of goal setting and strategizing for our film careers, but few of us are able to actually follow through and deliver. This is usually a result of poor motivation, or self-limiting beliefs, which result in a lack of true effort and persistence when the going gets tough. I would argue that these issues - not skill - are responsible for the thousands of film ideas every year that never get off the ground.

In this episode, I address this issue head on, discussing specific methods for setting and achieving your filmmaking goals, and using the concept of "obsession" to stay motivated even under the most difficult circumstances. The principles outlined are not only applicable to filmmaking, but also to business, creative entrepreneurship, and even achieving personal aspirations.

Filmmakers are commonly taught to focus on story structure, plot, and formula while screenwriting, with scene writing usually falling into the background of the discussion. This lack of attention can lead to scenes that are underwritten or underdeveloped, and that ultimately won’t serve the story as a whole.

In this weeks episode, we shift the focus away from general screenwriting theory, and discuss the granular principles of scene writing - Constructs that are not only designed to push the story forward, but more importantly to illicit an emotional response in the audience. Topics covered include: introducing conflict, writing with theme in mind, creating emotional undercurrents, and much more.

Before a film is even written, its success can be determined by the strength of the concept alone. Without a great concept, it can be extremely difficult to attract talent, producers, or investors to your project, and just as hard to market and sell the film once its done. In many respects, the concept development phase is the single most important part of the process, and one that can never be rushed.

In today's episode, I outline my entire concept development process from start to finish, using my upcoming feature film WHITE CROW as a case study. Topics covered include: Picking the right idea, development tactics, using the logline as DNA for the screenplay, iterating & revising the core concept, and much more.

To follow along with my upcoming feature film WHITE CROW, be sure to follow us on social media using the links below:

In 2018, the art of marketing a feature film is just as critical for independent filmmakers to know as the craft itself. No one knows this better than today’s guest, Kyle Prohaska, who is not only an incredible DIY filmmaker in his own right, but also an expert on marketing independent features.

Kyle and his company (Prohaska Studios) have successfully marketed countless feature films including: Asperger’s Are Us, Drive Play Sleep, Standing Firm, and Love Covers All, just to name a few. Over the course of this interview, Kyle shares his expertise on the art of marketing, outlining exactly what DIY filmmakers today need to know in order to successfully sell and market their films online.

For this week's interview, Jason Brubaker of Distribber joins me to share his wealth of knowledge on all things marketing & distribution. Distribber is one of the largest and most prominent aggregators for independent films out there, giving filmmakers without traditional distribution deals the ability to sell their content globally, through iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and countless other platforms.

During the interview, Jason outlines exactly what it takes to turn a profit with an indepdent film while working with an aggregator like Distribber. Using case studies and real world examples, Jason outlines a bulletproof method for setting sales targets for any indie film, and reaching those targets through purposeful marketing. Topics covered include: the importance of using a "windowed" release strategy, the differences between popular TVOD, SVOD, & AVOD platforms, how to use grassroots marketing to drive your film up the charts, what Netflix is looking for when licensing independent content, and much more.

This week, Jim Cummings - Director of THUNDER ROAD - joins me on the show to demystify the process behind his massive success in filmmaking over the past few years. Jim won Sundance in 2016 with his short version of Thunder Road,and went on to win SXSW in 2018 with his full length feature adaptation of the film.

Over the course of this hour long interview, Jim shares his creative process at length, touching on every key aspect - development, screenwriting, directing, performance, editorial, and even self-distribution. He also speaks passionatley about his biggest advice for filmmakers - just getting out there and making a movie - and the importance of building a sustainable career in today’s indie film landscape.

In this week’s episode, I interview Don Hardy - an extremely accomplished documentary filmmaker whose most recent feature film, Pick Of The Litter, is being released theatrically by IFC films later this month.

Don and his co-director (Dana Nachman) have an incredible track record of finding success with their feature docs, beginning with their film “Witch Hunt” in 2008 - A complete DIY project that was able to secure Sean Penn as a narrator, and premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.

Over the course of the interview, Don outlines his approach to the art and business of documentary filmmaking, detailing his process for taking an idea from concept to completion, and securing theatrical distribution along the way.

One of the most essential ingredients for success in today’s filmmaking landscape, is the ability to build an online community that is supportive of your work. Many of the most successful filmmakers, artists, and other creative entrepreneurs have been able to thrive artistically and financially, simply by harnessing the power of community engagement.

While building a sustainable community around your passion, interests, and abilities has never been easier, it is still no easy feat. It takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and sweat equity, but those who are willing to put in the legwork are rewarded massively over the course of their careers. In this episode, we discuss the fundamental building blocks of any strong creative community, and how you can build one of your own that is based around your unique skills and abilities.